Plano #2 for 'Top 10 Best Cities for Families'

The struggles endured in recent years by America’s young people pale in comparison to those suffered by their peers in Spain and Greece, where youth unemployment in excess of 50 percent has spawned great social unrest. Still, finding a job in the U.S. — let alone laying the foundation for a long and prosperous career — is far from simple.

But there’s reason for optimism among the graduating class of 2015 and the scores of young people so disillusioned with the job market that they’ve given up their search for employment. Not only do more employers plan to hire recent college grads in 2015, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, but hiring in general is also on the rise.

Increased hiring obviously doesn’t guarantee employment, though. Young people still must learn how to maximize their marketability. In addition to customizing cover letters and making social media accounts safe for work, that could very well entail finding a new place to live and work. After all, employment opportunities vary significantly based on simple geography.

So, in order to help recent college graduates find the best cradles for their burgeoning careers, WalletHub analyzed the 150 largest U.S. cities. We used 19 key metrics to determine the relative strength of their job markets as well as the attractiveness of their social scenes and other factors important to job market entrants. A complete breakdown of our findings, a detailed methodology and expert financial management tips for young people can be found below.